By the numbers:

Scored Legislation

This bill would have prevented Maine’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) from imposing extra charges and burdens on home and business owners who use solar power. The bill also would have increased the number of people who can participate in a community solar project from the current limit of ten to Continue...

Status: Bill failed to get a majority in either the House or Senate and died.

We all benefit from cars and trucks that pollute less – the air is cleaner, our health is better, and we’re one step closer to energy independence. Maine drivers shouldn’t be penalized for choosing fuel-efficient vehicles that reduce gasoline imports, use locally-produced energy, create less carbon pollution, and keep more Continue...

Pollution from metallic mineral mining poses a significant threat to Maine’s waters and to the taxpayers who are frequently left paying the cleanup cost. After several years of rejecting too-weak mining rules, the legislature enacted LD 820, a strong set of regulations that will protect clean water and taxpayers from Continue...

Flame-retardant chemicals used in upholstered furniture are linked to cancer, birth defects, and learning disabilities in children. While fighting fires, firefighters are exposed to these chemicals. Cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters. Scientists find that these chemicals do not even slow down fires. This bill passed Continue...

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a rule, effective January 1, 2018, that will charge people for the solar they produce to power their own homes. The rule will require Central Maine Power (CMP) to install new meters on solar homes, which are to be paid for by all ratepayers Continue...

Public Reserved Lands are managed for a variety of resources including outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat conservation, and commercial timber harvesting. In 2015, a study commission developed a set of recommendations for improving access, prioritizing recreation infrastructure projects, and clarifying that timber harvest revenue should be used by the Bureau of Continue...

One in eight Maine drinking water wells contain hidden toxic chemicals like arsenic, which can elevate the risk of cancer and cause learning disabilities. Arsenic has no smell, taste, or color, and many Mainers do not know that they should test their wells for it. LD 454 will raise awareness Continue...

MUBEC is a minimum energy efficiency code required for towns with populations over 4,000; towns with less than 4,000 are exempt from the code. LD 1392 would have weakened the code by allowing any town to opt out, which would have resulted in the building of energy inefficient homes that Continue...

Maine has one of the strongest bottle bills in the country, and as a result of LD 56, it is even stronger. On January 1, 2019, a deposit of five cents will be charged for every ‘nip’ liquor bottle in an effort to reduce litter. The bill passed the legislature Continue...

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About Maine Conservation Voters

Maine Conservation Voters cultivates and uses political power to conserve and protect Maine's environment. MCV helps pass laws that protect our environmental legacy, elects pro-environment candidates to office, and holds our elected officials accountable, without regard to political party.